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Small fishing boats sitting on the wet sand of St Ives harbour at low tide, below the stone houses along the Wharf, under a blue sky

Cornwall

Dog-friendly St Ives

Photo: ArildV, CC BY-SA 4.0

Head for Porth Kidney Sands past Carbis Bay, open to dogs all year, or little Bamaluz Beach by the harbour. Walk the coast path to Lelant or Zennor, then warm up by the fire at the Lifeboat Inn. From 15 May to 30 September, Porthmeor, Porthminster and Carbis Bay close to dogs from 10am to 6pm.

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Where to stay in St Ives with a dog

4 hotels, inns and B&Bs and 5 cottages and holiday lets that take dogs, each with its dog charge and limits.

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Where to stay

Our picks: the places most welcoming to dogs.

  • Hotel · The Terrace

    Harbour Hotel St Ives

    Dog charge: £20 per dog per night

    A spa hotel on The Terrace, looking down over Porthminster Beach. Your dog can come with you into the bar and out on the terrace.

    Check prices

  • Hotel · The Terrace

    St Ives Bay Hotel

    Dog charge: £20 per dog per night

    A big seaside hotel on The Terrace, between the station and the town, with sea views from many rooms and its own car park.

    Check prices

  • Hotel · Carbis Bay

    Treloyhan Manor

    Dog charge: £30 per dog per night

    A manor house in its own gardens and woodland above Carbis Bay, with self-catering suites and lodges. Dogs are welcome in all of them, and the coast path runs past the estate.

    See nearby stays

St Ives with a dog

St Ives sits on a narrow headland at the western end of St Ives Bay. The old fishing quarter, Downalong, runs from the harbour out to The Island, with the small beaches of Bamaluz and Porthgwidden on either side of it. Porthmeor, the surf beach below the Tate, faces the Atlantic, and Porthminster curves away below the station to the east.

The South West Coast Path runs both ways from town. East, it follows the railway above Carbis Bay and Porth Kidney Sands to Lelant, so you can walk one way and take the train back. West, it heads out past Clodgy Point on a rough, hilly stretch of cliffs to Zennor.

Beaches

All 7 dog-friendly beaches in St Ives

Pubs and cafes

All 13 dog-friendly pubs and cafes in St Ives

Dog walks

  • Carbis Bay to Porth Kidney Sands · 2.0 miles

    A short, easy coast path walk from Carbis Bay station, above the railway and the bay, to Porth Kidney Sands, a long dog-friendly beach facing the Hayle estuary. Walk on to Lelant and take the train back.

  • St Ives to Lelant · 4.5 miles

    From St Ives station the coast path follows the railway high above Carbis Bay and Porth Kidney Sands to Lelant, past old stone crosses and the churchyard. There isn't much climbing, but it's open to the wind, so take a layer and catch the train back.

  • Zennor to St Ives · 5.5 miles

    The wild stretch west of town. Take the early bus out to Zennor and walk back along the cliffs, dropping in and out of coves until Clodgy Point, then an easier path into St Ives. It's challenging, narrow and rough in places.

The journey

Getting to St Ives with a dog

The nearest station is St Ives.

You can take your dog on the train to St Ives for free: National Rail allows up to two per passenger. Keep them on a lead or in a carrier on the train and at stations.

St Ives station is just above Porthminster Beach, a short walk from the harbour. Trains on the branch line also stop at Carbis Bay and Lelant, so you can walk the coast path one way and ride back.

Driving in, the council's long-stay car parks are Trenwith, Station, Barnoon, The Island, Smeatons Pier and Park Avenue, with Porthrepta at Carbis Bay. Porthmeor, behind the beach, is short stay.

Map of dog-friendly places in St Ives

S = stay, B = beach, P = pub or cafe, W = walk start. Hover over or tap a pin to see its card.

Show as a list

Beaches

Pubs and cafes

Good to know

  • From 15 May to 30 September, keep your dog off Porthmeor, Porthminster and Carbis Bay beaches between 10am and 6pm.
  • In July and August, the same hours apply on Porthgwidden and the harbour beach. Bamaluz Beach and Porth Kidney Sands stay open to dogs all year.
  • Use a lead on the footpath from St Uny Church in Lelant down to Porth Kidney Sands.
  • On the coast path, keep your dog back from the cliff edges and clip on a short lead near sheep, cows and horses.

Quick answers about St Ives with a dog

Is St Ives dog friendly?
Yes. Bamaluz Beach and Porth Kidney Sands are open to dogs all year, the coast path runs from the town to Lelant and Zennor, and the Lifeboat Inn and the Union Inn let dogs in. You can bring your dog on the train for free, too.
Can I take my dog on the train to St Ives?
Yes, for free. Keep them on a lead or in a carrier on the train and at stations. St Ives station is just above Porthminster Beach, and the same line stops at Carbis Bay and Lelant for the coast path walks.
Where can I walk my dog in St Ives?
Along the coast path: east above the railway to Carbis Bay, Porth Kidney Sands and Lelant, or west over the cliffs to Zennor. In summer, Bamaluz Beach by the harbour stays open to dogs all day.